Challenging Journey to Conquer the Far East by Young Couple

After 1.5 hours conquering sand dunes as high as mountains, Minh and Giang had to continue trekking for about 3 hours across new terrains to reach Mui Doi, the Far East point of Vietnam.

Challenging Journey to Conquer the Far East by Young Couple

Previously, Mui Dai Lanh (Phu Yen) was considered the Far East point of our country, even having a large milestone with the inscription 'The place to welcome the first sunrise on the mainland of Vietnam.' However, when Mui Doi (Khanh Hoa) was discovered, it was officially recognized as the accurate Far East point of the homeland based on coordinates. According to measurements, Mui Doi welcomes the sunrise 4 seconds earlier than Mui Dai Lanh. At this location, a stainless steel peak was installed on August 4, 2012, to mark the farthest point. Despite being more difficult, the journey to Mui Doi is a destination that young backpackers eagerly want to conquer.

Mui Doi is located in Dam Mon fishing village, in Van Phong Bay, Van Thanh commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province, about 80 km north of Nha Trang city via National Highway 1A, and about 35 km south of Tuy Hoa city (Phu Yen).

On March 22 and 23, the couple Thanh Minh (29 years old) and Thu Giang (26 years old) successfully conquered Mui Doi. Here are the insights from Minh and Giang's journey:

Ideal Timing

The ideal time for the journey is during the early months of the year, from January to May, when the weather is not too hot and avoids heavy rain, making it less exhausting. The remaining period of the dry season (June to August) can be extremely harsh with temperatures rising to 35-39°C, making the rugged road even more challenging. On the other hand, from September to December is the rainy season and not the ideal time for the trek.

Essential Gear

You need to acknowledge that this is an 'adventurous' trip, so the lighter your gear, the better. Here are the essentials:

– Tent, flashlight, and lighter (if camping overnight to catch the sunrise the next day).

– Drinking water for the trek. Each person needs about 2 liters (for a day trek) or 3 liters (for an overnight trek).

– Portable charger (if camping overnight).

– Sports shoes, sun-protective clothing, hat, face mask, sunglasses, breathable gloves.

– Personal hygiene items: face towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo.

– Various medications, band-aids, medical adhesive tape...

– Swimwear.

– Dry snacks (sausages, bread…).

– Raincoat set and large waterproof bag to cover the backpack or camera in case of rain.

Transportation

From Nha Trang or Tuy Hoa, you need to rent a motorbike to get to Dam Mon, the rental cost is around 100,000 VND/day, and you cover your own fuel expenses (Reference: Mr. Tuan in Nha Trang, phone number 0903354470, contact a few days before the trip). After reaching Dam Mon, you can choose to go by road or rent a boat directly to Mui Doi. Traveling by boat can be expensive (about 1.5 – 2 million VND/trip) and depends heavily on weather conditions. Therefore, most backpackers choose the road to have more control and experience the journey of conquering the Far East properly.

Additionally, it's best to have a guide lead the way instead of relying on navigation systems. There have been cases where groups tried to navigate on their own, and after 2-3 days of struggling without finding the destination, they had to call for a guide to 'rescue' them. On the other hand, the alternative option helps you save maximum time and energy.

The most famous guide to Mui Doi is Uncle Hai Chau (commonly known as Uncle Hai, phone number 01662037427). He has been doing this job for over 5 years. Currently, he doesn't guide directly anymore but acts as the 'dispatcher,' assigning tasks to 3 family members. The price for a 'round trip' guiding ranges from 400,000 VND to 1 million VND, depending on the number of guests (2-person group is 400,000 VND, even a 30-person group is only 1 million VND). Uncle Hai's guides are very enthusiastic and friendly. They also help guests carry heavy loads or tents.

To get from Dam Mon to Uncle Hai's house, you have to pass through the vast expanse of white sand dunes, with sandbanks as high as mountains. Following that is an 8 km challenging trek from Uncle Hai's house to Mui Doi, including various challenges on different terrains, from crossing forests, climbing mountains to jumping over rapids, threading through steep rock walls.

Embark on the journey to conquer the Far East

This is the suggested itinerary for those starting from Nha Trang in the morning and camping overnight to witness the sunrise at Mui Doi.

After breakfast, depart at 6:30 AM. Since Dam Mon is not too far from Nha Trang (about 80 km), you can drive comfortably. On the way from Vạn Giã town to Dam Mon, look to the right, and you'll see beautiful strips of land running along the sea, an excellent spot to capture unique photos.

Upon reaching Dam Mon, don't forget to take a commemorative photo with the milestone 'Dam Mon 0 km.' At this point is the harbor, where you can take a break and enjoy sweet coconut water for only 15,000 VND/coconut. After that, turn back about 30 meters, and you'll see on the right a wide, dreamy expressway, with spaces hidden in the sand, undulating hills, giving the impression of being in the Texas of the United States.

After this stretch, you will truly begin to 'experience' the hardship. In contrast to the dreamy expressway is the challenging path leading to Uncle Hai's house. Passing through towering sand dunes becomes more difficult than ever with the thick desert-like sand, causing the bike to sink to a point where it can stand without the kickstand. Under the scorching sun, there will be moments of discouragement as you continuously twist the throttle, pushing the bike until your arms ache, sand splashing straight onto the pusher's body behind, feet sinking deep into the hot sand while the vast white space still stretches ahead.

After about 1.5 hours of 'wrestling' to escape from the sand dunes, the feeling now is as if exhausted. You will continue to carefully ride the motorbike on the dry, cracked road, revealing deep and wide cracks several tens of centimeters. But when you see the breathtaking sea gradually appearing before your eyes, all tiredness will vanish, replaced by immense excitement and enthusiasm.

Arrive at Uncle Hai's around noon, leave your bike here, have lunch and take a break for a while, get ready mentally before starting trekking at 3 PM. Send back most of your belongings, only bring the essentials, and wear them on your shoulder instead of carrying by hand.

The 8 km journey from Uncle Hai's to the Far East includes various terrains. In the first stretch, you may have found yourself panting as you traversed dry, rocky slopes under the blazing sun. Depending on your health, after about 2-3 hours of trekking through forests and mountains, you will reach Bai Gio. Many choose this spot to camp (due to the flat ground, always cool breeze), then wake up early the next morning to continue to Mui Doi.

However, Minh and Giang chose to go straight to Mui Doi instead of staying at Bai Gio, aiming to reduce the return journey time the next day. Although the distance from Bai Gio to Mui Doi is only a few hundred meters, it will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to navigate through large, closely-packed rocks and sometimes dangerous cliffs.

The final challenge before touching the stainless-steel peak is to climb a rope to ascend the largest rock, about 7 meters high. This can be challenging for many girls, but the guide always carries a safety rope and will assist you in climbing more easily.

After the relentless effort, the reward for you is an immensely joyful and exhilarating feeling when you set foot on the Far East point of the country – where the first sunrise on the mainland of Vietnam is welcomed, a place every adventurer aspires to conquer.

In the evening at Mui Doi, after helping you set up the tent, the guide will build a lively fire and grill flavorful marinated ribs prepared by Uncle Hai's wife. Enjoying delicious grilled ribs while contemplating the sparkling starry sky and listening to the soothing sound of the waves is truly an unforgettable experience.

Wake up early the next morning (around 5:15) to witness the sunrise at 6. Keep in mind that the sun rises rapidly, taking just over a minute from the first glimpse until it completely clears the horizon. Therefore, have your camera ready before 6 if you don't want to miss the most valuable moments of the entire journey.

After capturing the photos, it's advisable to pack up the camp and start the return journey as early as possible to avoid exhaustion from the hot sun. An uplifting factor is that the evenings tend to be quick and less tiring than the morning. For instance, in Minh and Giang's case, thanks to their good health, the couple took exactly 3 hours of trekking from Uncle Hai's to Mui Doi with 3 brief rests on the way, while the return journey took only 2.5 hours with a single break.

Arriving back at Uncle Hai's around 9 AM, you'll be welcomed with a refreshing and delicious glass of homemade lemonade by Mrs. Hai. After that, an enticing suggestion is to head to the beach behind Uncle Hai's house for a refreshing swim, immersing yourself in the crystal-clear water and enjoying the breathtaking, serene scenery that is rarely found elsewhere.

After lunch, take some time to rest before getting back on the vehicle to return to Dam Mon. At this point, the sand dunes will be a more comfortable challenge compared to the morning as it's mostly downhill. The vehicle won't sink, making pushing it less strenuous, and the travel time is reduced by half.

Travel notes:

– Due to the strenuous nature of the journey, it's advisable to build up your fitness for about 2 weeks before departure to get used to the physical activity and become more resilient.

– Due to Uncle Hai's fame, many people around the Dam Mon clam port claim to be 'Uncle Hai's family,' offering to guide visitors for a fee. However, their prices are high, and the quality of service is not satisfactory.

– Uncle Hai's house is situated in isolation from the residential area, with no neighbors around and challenging terrain. If you want to enjoy good food or bring fish or meat for grilling during camping, it's advisable to call and order at least 2 days in advance.

– Wear thick trekking attire to minimize scratches on your hands and feet. Additionally, clothing with a hat is effective for sun protection.

Specific Expenses

These are the expenses incurred by Minh and Giang, specifically for the Nha Trang – Mui Doi 1.5-day trip:

– Round-trip airfare from Hanoi to Nha Trang (2 people): 3,380,000 VND.

– Round-trip airport transfer to Nha Trang city: 360,000 VND.

– Motorcycle rental and fuel: 210,000 VND.

– All-inclusive package at Uncle Hai's house: 1,100,000 VND (guide service, tent rental, three meals, etc.).

– Food expenses in Nha Trang: 400,000 VND.

Total: 5,450,000 VND for 2 people.

Next Itinerary Suggestions

After conquering Mui Doi, consider exploring more of Phu Yen:

– Drive from Dam Mon to Dong Be village, Hoa Tam commune, Dong Hoa district, Phu Yen province, to visit Dai Lanh Cape (formerly considered the Easternmost point).

– Park your vehicle and have dinner at Uncle Muoi's house (right at the foot of the Dai Lanh lighthouse). Enjoy a beach swim at Mon Beach before returning for dinner.

– You can either spend the night at the lighthouse or Uncle Muoi's house. Wake up at 5 am the next morning to catch the sunrise at Dai Lanh Cape.

– Ghenh Da Dia in Phu Yen is another notable destination to visit if you have the time.

View photos of the challenging journey to conquer Mui Doi

Source: Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel guide on Mytour